When Mentor-on-the-Lake Fire Chief Robert Mahoney announced plans to retire last April, it was more than a year shy of his 40th anniversary with the department, and he was OK with that.
But the town of about 7,400 had a newly appointed mayor at the time, and he asked the chief to stay on a bit longer.
“He’s a good man,” Mahoney said of Mayor David Eva. “He talked me into it.”
Eva remembers it a little differently.
“He can say I talked him into staying another year, but actually his dedication to his job and to our residents kept him with us another year,” he said. “This is just the person Bob is.”
Regardless of the reason, Mahoney’s final day is officially today. At age 61, the chief said it’s just time to go.
The Eastlake native was full time with Willoughby Fire Department when he joined Mentor-on-the-Lake as a volunteer in June 1974. That’s all there was of the city’s fire service in those days — part-timers responding from home.
In 1993, Mahoney became chief and, under his leadership, the department evolved into the modern-day outfit it is today, with around-the-clock station coverage and increased paramedic training.
“I’m proud that we have managed to continue to make progress toward meeting people’s expectations of what the fire service today should be,” he said.
In addition, the station itself was expanded. Mahoney bargained for the old library building next-door, which the city purchased after the library relocated to Salida Road.
“I went to the city and said we’re jammed for room,” he said.
“I said I and my people would refurbish the inside if they let us have the building.”
Mahoney still gets emotional when discussing some emergency calls he’s answered during the last four decades.
One was at Overlook Beach Park, where two young children were playing on the pier and fell in the rough waters. A 17-year-old boy heard them call for help and jumped in to save them. He, however, didn’t make it.
“The kid died doing one of the bravest things anyone can do,” the chief said. “So there are still some good people around out there.”
Mahoney noted that small cities like his have their ups and downs. He acknowledged that he is retiring during a challenging time, financially.
The chief was back to driving the squad in recent weeks, because he was one of only three full-timers available. The staff remains down a man through attrition — a lieutenant left two years ago and wasn’t replaced because of budget constraints. Another full-timer is on extended sick leave.
“It’s just what it’s come to,” the chief said, adding that his departure is unrelated to a recent levy failure that signals further budget cuts.
Eva, who is also safety director and will be acting chief for now, said Mahoney ably did more with less.
“Bob, based on the numbers, (managed) one of the most efficient fire departments in Lake County,” he said. “Bob is well-respected by his peers.”
One of the questions Mahoney has heard is, “What are your plans for retirement?”
“I’m going to do whatever it is that makes me happy,” he said.